to the earth , and unable to rise. Many of the English,also , whom the Normans drew down with them , died there . At no time during the day 's battle did so many Normans die as perished in that fosse. So those said who saw the dead . The varlets who were set to guard the baggage began to abandon it as they saw the loss of the Frenchmen , when thrown back upon the fosse without power to recover themselves."
This fosse must, therefore, have been visible from the eminence in the rear to which the varlets had retired , and which , as it could not be far from the main road, I take to be identical with the site of Mr. Carter's house. The Nor mans must have also passed it without regarding it ; now this they never could have done if they had crossed it. Thirdly , it was so situated that WACE says the Normans had it at their back .
En la champaigne outun fosse ;
Normanz l'aveient adosse :
En belliant l'orent passe,
Ne l'aveient mie esgarde.
All these particulars seem satisfied by the deep valley or ravine, which ran all along the rear of the Norman left wing, and which , nevertheless, might not have been noticed by them , especially if it was at all concealed by trees ; yet if they were charged home they could hardly fail to be driven to its verge. One particular point of this ravine I am inclined to identify with the Malfosse. In this I also agree with the Chronicon de Bello,translated by Mr. LOWER, -
